Thread collecting device



June 18, v1940. F I 2,204,593

THREAD COLLECTING DEV ICE Fil ed Oct. 26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3maentor (Ittorneg June 18, 1940. F. FQHILLIX THREAD COLLECTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 26, 1936 2 Sheet-Sheet 2.

$0 M o o g 01.10:

(Ittorneu FIG. 5

Patented June 18,

THREAD COLLECTING DEVICE Foster F. Hillix, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, at corporation of Delaware I Application October 26, 1936, Serial No. 107,530

14 Claims.

This invention relates to the winding of thread or the like upon a collecting device, and, in particular, to the winding of freshly spun artificial thread or the like upon a spinning spool.

'5 The package treating of spooled thread or the like has long been a troublesome problem, not alone in the manufacture of artificial silk thread, but in the package treating arts generally, as, for example, in dyeing. Because of such factors as thickness of the cake, compactness of the winding and capillary attraction, the cake ordinarily collected is lacking in porosity; so that a long time is required to force the treating fluid therethrough. These factors are, however,

tice employed, being more troublesome in some cases than others. The present invention. has for its object to provide means for producing a highly porous cake facilitating performance of the desired processing operations.

The advantages of the invention in these respects will be hereinafter described as they appear in the viscose process of manufacturing artificial silk thread, although it is to be understood that the invention may be used to advantage in other similar processes such as the cuprammonium, cellulose acetate, and cellulose nitrate processes for the manufacture of arti-, f icial silk thread. Indeed, the invention is applicable to any winding practice wherein a cake of thread or the like is formed upon a spool which cake, in its original package form, is later to be subjected to the action of one or more processing liquids, as, for example, water for washing purposes, dyeing media, etc.

In the viscose process, the viscose is extruded through a spinneret into an acid coagulating bath, after which, in the spool-spinning system, it is collected as a thread upon a rotating spool. Inasmuch as the thread may be wound upon the same spool for a period exceeding five hoursfa thick layer will necessarily be formed. The acid remaining upon the thread is washed therefrom while the thread is still upon the spool, as by im- 45 mersing the spool in a bath=of washing liquid and forcing the liquid. through the cake by a pressure differential. Several hours may be required, using ,clear water, to free the thread completely of the acid carried over from the co- 5o, agulating bath. Similar conditions obtain in desulphuring, which may be effected while the thread is in the original package, and in any subsequent processing operations.

By winding the thread in the manner contemplated by ,the present invention, the washing largely functions of the particular winding practime may be reduced from as much as five to as little as one and one half hours, giving rise to a very considerable saving in equipment, proc-- essing time and cost.

A preferred manner of obtaining these results 5 will be explained with reference to the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a spinning machine for the manufacture of viscose artificial silk thread in which 10 the apparatus of the-invention is incorporated; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation from line 2--2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on an enlarged scale through the upper portion of Figure 1, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Figure 4; l6 and Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a section showing-the parts in changed relation as compared with Figures 3 and 4, the section being taken on line 5-5 of Figure 6. Figure 6 is a section on line G- -S of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a view from line 1-1 of Figure 3, but on a larger scale.

Thread Ill, comprising cellulose regenerated from viscose extruded by pump ll through spinneret I2 into acid coagulating bath I3, is 001- u lected upon rotating spool [4. This spool may be removed as necessary from shaft ill, by which it is driven, in order that the spool with the thread thereon may be carried to the usual wash trough for the purpose of freeing the thread of acid. To lay the thread upon the rotating spool,

a traverse mechanism is provided which embodies a guide eye It that moves back and forth across the surface of the spool. The thread Ill passes in the usual way from spinneret' l2 to guide eye It and thence to spool I 4. As in conventional traverse mechanisms of the oscillatory t p the guide eye 16 is carried by an oscillating arm I! secured to a rocker shaft l8.

With ordinary constructions of this type, the 0 guide eye moves in an arcuate path; consequently. the thread is not supplied to the spool in .a uniform manner. At the end points of its stroke, the guide eye has necessarily been lifted by its. arcuate movement from the position with respect to the spool which it occupiedat the middle of its swing, as aresult of which \fact the length of the thread between the guidejleye and the spool and consequently the tension on the thread are periodically altered. Furthermore, as 50 the guide eye moves away from its mid-position, the horizontal component of its motion becomes increasingly less great; so that the guide eye operates to space the turns of thread more close- 1y toward the end portions of its travel, wherevv y as indicated, motion of the guide eye has a component at right angles to the length of the spool, and therefore a component in the direction of the spool axis which is smaller than at its midposition. These and like attributes constitute objections to the use of oscillating traverse mechanisms of the conventional type.

In the apparatus of the present invention, means are provided to compensate for the arcuate travel of the guide eye r alise it to move in astraight line, to impart tbit a constant speed longitudinally of the spool, and to eflect a uniform spacing of the thread turns. To that end, although guide eye I5 is carried-by an arm I1 connected to a rocker shaft l8 much as in conventional machines, rocker'shaft I8 is positioned in slots I9 of brackets 20 to permit translatory as well as limited rotary movement thereof. The slots H are disposed at right angles to the axis of the spool I, so that the rocker shaft may move toward and awayfrom the spool. With this arrangement, arm I! is capable 'of movement in the general direction of its axis and in consequence of such movement guide eye [6 is correspondingly raised or lowered.

To maintain rockershaft [3 in place in slots I!) while it is beingz rotated, rocker shaft 18 is supported at each end in one of a pair of links 22, 23. Link 22 is rigidly secured to rocker shaft l8. Link 23 pivotally connects the lower end of link 22 to bracket 20. Links 22 and 23 are so disposed that their axes and the axis of arm I! lie in a common plane when arm I1 is in its midposition. Since links22 and 23 both extend vertically when arm l|-is in its mid -position, rocker I shaft l8 will then, be in its highest position, as shown in Figures 3,-,and 4.

As arm ll swings from its mid-position, links 22 and 23 incline toward each other to assume a partly collapsed or buckled position, which movement results. in progressively lowering rocker shaft l8. By the time arm i! has reached the end point of its travel, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, rocker shaft It has been lowered to such an extent thatguide eye it continues on the same level as when arm H was at its mid-position. This progressive lowering of rocker shaft l8 compensates for the tendency of the guide eye to lift due to oscillatory movement of arm l'l about shaft l8, giving rise to rectilinear motion 'of guide eye [6.-

Rocker'shaft I8 is given the necessary amount of rotation by means of an arm 24 carrying a pin 25 working in a slot 26 in a block 21 secured to reciprocating rod 28. This rod may be reciprocated in any desired mannen preferably by a cam. It is important, however, that rocker shaft It! not only be rotated in timed relation to the rotation of the spool H, but that for each complete swing of the arm [1, forward and back, the spool M rotate a whole number of turns and a fractional portion of a .turn, which fraction when reduced to its lowest terms has an odd number for its denominator.

As an example, for each complete swing of the arm H, the spool l4 may make 83% turns. -With this relation established between the arm ie'ia-and.

. rectly over the thread laid on the spdol l4 during its first turn. In this manner, the thread will be built up uniformly around the spool and will this recessional movement form a regular diamond-shaped pattern. If the denominator of the fractional turn which the spool in addition to its whole number of turns makes for each complete swing is less than twenty-five, the diamonds formed by the thread will be of larger size.

Due to the straight line motion which is imposed on guide eye I6 by the action of links 22, 23 and the r sultant constant speed of travel of guide eye E'; 1% diamonds will be uniform over the entire length or spool ll. Without the compensating mechanism of the invention, the diamonds. at the end portions of spool ll would be samller than-those at the center. By having the diamonds of uniform size, the thread upon the entire spool will be uniformly treated in the course of subsequent processing operations, since the treating fluid will flow equally through all portions of the cake of thread which has been .size of the cake of thread as it builds up, the path of travel of the-thread from guide eye IE to the point of contact with the cake of thread will tend to change, wherefore the thread being laid down at any given time will not be disposed exactly radially outwardly of the spool from the supposedly corresponding turns previously laid down, but on the contrary will be circumferentially slightly shifted. The crossing points of thread will consequently tend to occur at progressively changing points about the spool. This may br objectionable, especially if a thick cake is to be formed, since the openings in the diamond pattern close to the spool will be closed by the upper layers of thread.

To cause all subsequent crossing points of the thread to lie radially outward of the others and be directly superimposed thereupon, the present invention further provides a recessional movement of the guide eye l6 away from the spool l4 so that it will remain at a constant distance from the outside of the cake of thread on the M as the cake increases in size. To permit of guide eye i6, arm

spool I1 is splined to rocker shaft l; as by key 30.

A screw shaft 3|, threaded through the upper part of arm 11, is utilized to shift the arm l1 lengthwise of rocker shaft [8. This screw shaft 3| is-rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 32, 33 fastened to rocker shaft l8; Axial movement of screw shaft 3| is prevented by a worm wheel 34 and a collar 35 afllxed to screw shaft 3| on opposite sides of block 32. Arm I1 is thus forced upon rotation of screw shaft 3! to move axially "of rocker shaft l8.

Any suitable means may be employed to rotate screw shaft 3| which serves to turn the latteigthe proper amount to withdraw the guide-eye l6 from the spool M at the rate at which the cake of thread-on the spool l4 increases in thickness.

To accomplish this, guide eye l6 should preter ably be withdrawn from the spool I4 in a direction perpendicular to the span of thread from the guide eye IE to the spool H. WithFguide eye IS in its preferred location vertically beneath the exterior of spool Id at the start oflthezwind ing; as shown in Figure 3, thedesiredmesult is attained by moving guide' eyenifi horizontally away from spool l6. 8y withdrawing guide eye 16 at the rate at which the thread builds up on spool H, the thread will at all times pass vertically from guide eye Hi to the spool l4. The outer turns of thread will be disposed radially outwardly from the corresponding inner turns and all crossing points will be directly superimposed. Since the openings in the diamonds will be in line throughout the thickness of the cake of thread, the passage of treating fluids will be greatly facilitated. l I

For rotating screw shaft 31, worm wheel 34 may be engaged by a worm 36 carried by a suitable worm shaft mounted in,bearings provided by upwardly extending portions of bearing block 32. At the outer end of the worm shaft is a ratchet wheel 31. Carried by a bracket 38 of the frame is a pawl 39 so disposed as to be contacted by ratchet wheel 31 upon upward movement of the rocker shaft [8 in its guide slots l9. A spring pressed detent 40 retains ratchet wheel 31 in the position to which it is urged by pawl 39. The number of teeth on ratchet wheel 31, the number of teeth on worm wheel 34, and the lead of the thread on screw shaft 3| are so related to the denier of the thread that the arm I! will be urged along rocker shaft I8 a distance equal to the thickness of the yarn upon each engagement of ratchet wheel 31 with pawl 39. In operation, upon actuation of rocker shaft I8 by means of arm 24, guide eye 16 moves back and forth across the face of spool [4 in a path parallel to the axis of the spool. At the same time, it recedes from the spool H as the cake of thread builds up thereon. Links 22, 23 perform the two-fold function of lifting rocker shaft 3 to make possible straight line motion of guide eye I6 and of urging ratchet wheel 31 irlto engagement with pawl 39 to cause the guide eye 16 to recede. To restore the parts to their initial position for winding a new spool, it is merely necessary to lift pawl 39 and detent 40 and rotate ratchet wheel 31 backward by means of handle 4|. If desired, handle M may also be used to effect recessional movement of arm I"! by a manual operation. In this event, pawl 39 may be removed or held in non-operating position, the worm 36 being rotated by turning handle 4| either uninterruptedly or intermittently.

It is obvious that various other means than those herein shown and described may, without departing from the spirit of the invention, be employed to compensate for the arcuate path which the guide eye tends to take, It is likewise obvious that various other means may be employed for effecting recession of the guide eye from the spool. It is further obvious that such compensating means and such means for effecting recession ofthe guide eye may be employed either together, as in the foregoing illustrative example, or independently of each other, as may be desired.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Thread-winding apparatus comprising a thread-collecting device; an oscillating traverse mechanism comprising an oscillating arm carrying a thread guide eye; means for controlling the oscillatory movement of said arm in such manner as to cause rectilinear movement of said thread guide eye; and means for progressively moving said oscillatory arm to maintain a constant thread length between said thread guide eye and the outer layers of thread on said collecting device. l a

2. Thread-winding apparatus comprising a thread-collecting device; traverse mechanism for guiding the. thread; and positively operated means for progressively moving said traverse mechanism laterally away from said collecting device at the same rate as the package of thread wound thereon increases, in thickness.

3. Thread-winding apparatus comprising a thread-collecting device; traverse mechanism for guiding the thread; and means operated in timed relation with and acting upon said traverse .mechanism to maintain a uniform thread length between said traverse mechanism and the outer layers of thread on said collecting device.

4. Thread-winding apparatus comprising a thread-collecting device; a thread guide eye; means for causing a relative movement between said collecting device and said thread guide. eye

in a direction extending longitudinally of said collecting device; and means operated in timed relation to said first mentioned means for causing a progressive relative lateral movement between said device and said thread guide eye, thereby maintaining a uniform thread length between them.

5. Thread-winding apparatus comprising a thread-collecting device; a thread guide eye; means for causing a relative movement between said collecting device and said thread guide eye in a direction extending longitudinally of said collecting device; and means for causing a progressive movement of said thread guide eye at right angles to the length of thread between said thread guide eye and said collecting device.

6. Thread guide mechanism comprising an oscillatory arm carrying a thread guide eye; a pivot for said arm; guide means permitting recreciprocating said pivot in said guide means during oscillatory movement of said arm thereby to -move said thread guide eye in a straight line.

7. Thread guide mechanism comprising an tilinear movement of said pivot; and means for oscillatory arm carrying a thread guide eye; a

oscillatory arm carrying a thread guide eye; a

pivot for said arm; guide means permitting rectilinear movement of said pivot in the plane determined by the axis of said guide means and the mid-position of said thread guide eye; and supporting means positioning said pivot in varying locations in said guide means as said arm is oscillated to eifect a straight line movement of said thread guide eye.

19. Thread guide mechanism comprising an arm carrying a thread guide eye; said arm being adapted to oscillate about an axis capable of translatory displacement; means for imparting oscillatory movement to said arm; and means for controlling the movement of the axis in its translatory displacement to cause said thread guide eye to move in a linear path.

I 5 said axis and the mid-position of said thread guide eye; means'for imparting an oscillatory movement to said 'arm; and means for controlling the reciprocating movement of said axis insaid plane "whereby said thread guide eye is caused to move in a linear path.

12; Threadxguide mechanism comprising a '1 shaft; a thread guide eye supported by said shaft at a distance therefrom; means for imparting rocking movement to said shaft; and means for 15 laterallydisplacing said shaft in timed relation to its rocking movement to cause said thread guide eye to move in a linear path.

' 13. Thread-winding apparatus comprising a thread-collecting device; a thread guide eye disposed directly below theoutermost layers of thread on the take-up side of said collecting device; means for causing relative movement of said thread guide eye and said collecting device in a direction extending longitudinally of said collecting device; and means for progressively increasing the distance between said thread guide eye and Said collecting device so that as the package of thread increases in thickness said thread guide eye is maintained directly below the outermost layers of thread on the take-up side of said collecting device, whereby the length of thread between said thread guide eye and said outermost layers of thread remains constant.

14. Thread-winding apparatus comprising a thread-collecting device; a shaft; an arm dependingf-rom said shaft, said shaft being disposed with its axis perpendicular to a plane passed through the axis of the collecting device 7 parallel to the axis of said arm; a thread guide eye supported from said shaft by means of said arm in such manner that the length of thread between said thread guide eye and said collecting device is approximately perpendicular to the axis of said shaft; means for oscillating said arm carrying said thread guide eye about the axis of said shaft; and means for progressively moving said arm carrying said thread guide eye away from said collecting device in a direction parallel to the axis of said Shaft as the package of thread on said collecting device increases in thickness whereby to maintain the perpendicular relation between said shaft and the length of thread beween said thread guide eye and said collect-ing means.

FOSTER F. HIL'LIX. 

